Automatic rowboat



18, 5- H. s. NODDING 2,051,221 AUTOMATIC 'ROWBOAT I Filed Feb. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

Henfi El. Nmddings ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 18, 1936. H. s. NODDINGS AUTOMATIC ROWBOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1935 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. I8, 1936 ILLUN T-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC Rowisoa'r 7 Henry S. Noddings, Washington, D. 0. Application February z, 1935, Serial No. 4.706, v

' 9Claims. (cue-92) The present invention relates toboats and the primaryobject ofthe invention is to provide a power operated toy row boat embodying mechanism for mechanically imparting rowing move- 'ment to the oars for propelling the boat..

A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the oars are adjustable for regulating the length of the stroke, the dip of the blade, and also the leverage of the oars so as to obtain maximum propelling force to the boat by theoars.

A further and important object resides in the arrangement for actuating the cars whereby the oar blades are moved thruan elliptical path of movement during the rowing action.

A still further object resides in the arrangement whereby the simulation of an oarsman grasping the handle portions of the cars is so associated with the oar operating mechanism as to have a realistic rowing -motion imparted thereto as the cars are operating.

. Other objectsjand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:

Figurel is a perspective view showing the automatic rowing means applied to a boat.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section thruone of the oars showing its various adjustments and'the mounting therefor.

-Figure 3is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the adjustable connection for the inner ends of the oar blades. 7 35 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail viewofthe oar operating means. v

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the adjustable crank arm on the crank disc'for varying the throw of the connecting rods.

40 Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5. v

In the drawings, and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates a 45 boat of any preferred type uponwhich the improved rowing apparatus has been shown mounted. The letter B may designate a suitable motor for actuating. the car operating means or mech anism C .for mechanically operating the oars 50 designated as a whole by the letter D. The letter E designates the figure of an oarsman associated with the oar operating means.

3 The motor B may be of any preferred type and in: the example shown is anelectric motor re- 5 ceivingits-source of current from a suitable battery 5. The motor B operates a drive shaft 6 suitably journaled at one end in the motor framing and extending longitudinally of the boat with its forward end mounted in a suitable bracket and embodying a worm 1. adapted to mesh with 5; a worm gear 8. This worm gear 8 is fixed upon a crank shaft 9 extending transversely of the boat and journaled in suitable brackets I0. 7 Fixed upon one end of the crank shaft. 9 outwardly of the supporting brackets III is a crank disc H to 10 which the car operating means C is connected for operation. When the boat is traveling forward, the direction of rotation of the crank disc II is in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 1 and 4. 15

The oar operating means or mechanism C comprises a connecting rod H which is upwardly oifset adjacent its rear end as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. Adjustably mounted upon the outer faced the crank disc H as by means of a set 20 screw I3 is a crank arm I4. Carried by the free end portion of the crank arm I4 is a shouldered set screw l5 providing a crank pin or stud for pivotal connection with the rear end of the connecting rod l2. As shown by the dotted line position of the crank arm I4, and the dot and dash line circles in Figure 5, the crank arm I4 may be adjusted with respect to the axis of the crank shaft 9 so as to vary the throw of the crank pin I5. This adjustment of the crank arm [4 may be made by loosening the set screw l3 forming the pivotal axis for the crank arm. The connecting rod [2 extends forwardly from the crank pin I5 at the longitudinal center of the 'boat and is provided at its forward portion with a series of adjustment openings [6 for receiving an adjustment pin l'l. Pivoted at its lower end as upon a pivot bracket I8 to swing forwardly and rearwardly of the boat is a rock lever I9 which is also provided at its lower portion with 40 a series of adjustment openings 20 which also receive the adjustment pin H. The purpose of providing this adjustable connection between the connecting rod l2 androck lever l9 will be subsequently described. 5

Referring now to the specific construction and mounting of the oars D, the oars are each of identical construction and each embodies a blade section 2| provided at its inner end with a radially corrugated connector plate 22 as shown in Figure 3. V

The blade H is adapted for adjustable connection to the outer end of a coupling portion' 23 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as by a pivot pin 24 in the upper end of a sleeve 25. The outer end of the coupling portion 23 is provided with a threaded bore 26 for receiving the threaded shank of an adjusting stem 21. The Outer end of this adjusting stem 21 is formed with a radially corrugated connector plate 28 as V shownin Figure3 forfco-acting with the con-V nector plate 22 of the oarrblade.

' I screw 29 extended thru the axialcenter of the connector plates Hand 28 serves to secure the blade in various angular adjusted positionswith respect tothe adjustingc stem 21.v Thus it--will be seen that this manner of adjustably mounting the blades 2| allows for the dip of the blades; to be regulated. V A lock nut 30 on thethreaded shank of the adjusting stem 21 may be turned into engagement with the outerend of the coupling portion 23 to secure thestem against rotation and this manner of connecting the blade to the coupling portion permits feathering of 1 the r,

i r blades. The inner end of the coupling portion'23 is formed with a threadedshank 3| for threading into'the'threaded bore'of a 'handleportion or section 32; A lock nut33 on the shank'3l r serves to'retain the handle portion 32 in longitudinally adjusted position on "the shank 3|; The-inner end of the handle section 32 is formed with a ball end -i34 as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

' The ball ends 34 of the oars are intended to extend into tubular sockets 35 and 35"-secured in axial alignment upon the connecting rod l2.

' These elongated tubular sockets 35 and 35' slidably receive theball' end of respective oars I and preferably have the outer ends of their bores tapered as shown in FigureZ to prevent'any bind in g'between the handle sections and the sockets. The-tubular sockets 35 and -35 are separably connectediin'axial alignment preferably by means cf'athreaded stem 36-'0n'the-inner end of the r V socket35 extended-thr'u adjustment openings 31 in the connecting rodl2 and threaded into the inner-endefr the socket- 35; The-adjustment openings 31 permit adjusting the tubular sockets ina directionlongitudinal-ly of thefconnecting rod" 5 3 The oars D are-mounted uponadjustable oar mounting-or locks; 38' secured one to each side of the boat; These} adjustable'oarmountings- -or locks 38; comprise a'slotted mounting 'platef-39 seeuredtothe boat by means of a screw or'the :clike' passed thru the slot in the plate so -as to' permit theplate being adjusted-in a direction transversely fof the boati Projecting upwardly from the outer end of the mounting plate is a pivotstud or post 4l forislidably'receiving the sleeve-25 whereby the sleeve is-permitted to pivot V n the post 4 II fIhus the post and the pivot pins 24 provide means permitting horizontal and vertical swinging movement of the cars during the-rowing action.

It is preterredthat'a figure simulating ance. rs-

manbe associated with the oaroperatingmean's 'andthis figure may be of anysuitablematerial and asjwillbepbserved is arranged with the body portion disposed over the'rock lever J9. {The forward and backward swinging 10f the lever; l9

V willimparta rockingmovement to the body; 'The arm portions of the body are arranged to give the appearance of holding'tofthehandle portions of theioars; A framing is provided for the armiportions ory-the figure and this i framing preferably embodies aninverted U-Vshaped wire niembenhair- 'ing'itscress piece 44 pivoted intermediate itsjends T inthe npper portion of the'rock lever lfl and its arm portions'45 extending downwardly at-opposite sides of the rock lever. The framing fdrthe An adjusting will move thru an elliptical path as indicated by looseningthe set screw 13 and swinging the emu k5;

Y crank pin I5 will'be lessened and thus shortenth'ei.

' length of the stroke' of the oars. This adjust- V merit of thecra'nk arm 14 will also tosome extent forearms of the figure preferably comprise a V-shape wire member connected at its apex as at 46 to the forward portion of the connecting rod 12 and with the arm portions 41 extending in diverging relation toward the rock lever. The

7 free ends of the arm portions ,41 are formed with loops or eyes "which slidably' receive with a loose fit the arms 45. Thus, by having the body carried by the rock lever the body will rock forwardlyandrearwardly owithth e rock lever, and 10 by havingthe vishaped ;member 1 secured to the connecting rod l2, the arms of the figure will be 'folded and straightened during the rowing action to'present a. more realistic appear-J ance. r n-ripe tmz r; the mechanism for impartin rowing movement to the oars D, when the crank disc I I is rotating'in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4, the tubular sockets 35 and 35' 20 the dot and dash h'ne SO in Flgui-e 4. 1 This'poth of movement of the tubular sockets will -impart a corresponding-elliptical path (if-movement tolthe blades 2 l With this elliptical path ormove ment ofthe blades 2|; itzwill-benoted'that thefl" and lowering of the connectin g rod l2 {due to'the 7 actionof the crank pin -l-5'.- V V I q Referring now to the various adjustments of the -mechanism for obtaining maximum'propeiling force to the bo'atby the oars'under-varying conditions, without adjusting" the connection be- 'tweenthe connecting rod I2 and therockleve:

l9, the'len'gthof the stroke may adjusted by arm I4 to vary the throwo'f the crank pin'orstud t5; Considering Figure5, when'the crank-arm 14 is swung from'the'full line position shownito the dotted line v-po'sitio'n shown,- the stroke "ofthe regulate the-dip'of the bladesf'By raising the forward end'of the'con necting rod I} too; higher positionon therock lever l-9 will raise theelliptk cal path 50and cause ther'blades' to dip de'per into the water. When adjusting the connecting a rod along the rock lever'by theadjnstment -openings 20, it may also become necessary to adiust the'connecting' rod with respect to the rock lever 00 g by means ofthe adjustment openingsflfi wa obtain the proper position for thei igure E; When desiring toincrease'the leverage o!"the 'cfi ."the 7 screws 40 are loosened and-the mounting plate 7 7 moved inwardlyfor shortening the between" the connectingrod and the pivot studljf'rhis inward movement of the mounting plate willpf course necessitate loosening ofthe m eu and threading the s'hanksof the'coupl-ing portions 23 into the handle sections 32 soas to shorten'the t0 space between the ball'endsiland' the r V 24. Feathering of the'blades Hfmaybe accomplished by loosening" the lock nuts and-rotating the stems 2l ior disposing the blades at the-dc sired feathering position; The blades ee/ 5- adjusted to vary the dip of the blades by means of the bolt 29 co-acting with corrugated connector plates 22 and 28. Thus it will be seen that the various adjustments provide for obtaining maximum rowing efliciency.

Changes in details may be made to the shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a rowing device of the class described, a pair of oars, a connecting rod provided intermediate its ends with laterally opening sockets slidably receiving the inner ends of the oars, a pivotally mounted lever having pivotal connec-'- tion with one end portion of the connecting rod, and drive means connected to the other end of the connecting rod for imparting a circular path of movement to said other end.

2. In a row boat, a pair of pivoted oars having handle portions, a crank shaft, means for imparting rotation to the crank shaft, a crank pin on the crank shaft, a connecting rod pivoted at one end on the crank pin, a rock lever, means pivotally connecting the other end of the connecting rod to the rock lever, and tubular sockets carried by the intermediate portion of the connecting rod and slidably receiving the handle portion of said cars.

3. In a rowing device for boats, a pair of pivoted oars, a crank shaft, means for imparting rotation to the crank shaft, a crank pin carried by the crank shaft, means for adjusting the throw of the crank pin, a connecting rod connected at one end on the crank pin, a rock lever, means adjustably and pivotally connecting the other end of the connecting rod to the rock lever, and socket coupling means between the inner ends of the oars and the connecting rod.

4. In a rowing device for boats, a pair of pivoted oars each having a handle portion, a crank disc, means for rotating the crank disc, a crank arm adjustable on the crank disc and having a crank pin, a connecting rod pivoted at one end on the crank pin, a rock lever, means adjustably and pivotally connecting the other end of the connecting rod to the rock lever, a pair of axially aligning tubular sockets carried by the connecting rod, and a ball end on the handle portion of each oar for engaging in said sockets.

5. In a rowing device, in combination with a boat, a pair of cars pivoted one upon each side of the boat, a crank disc journaled on an axis transversely of the boat, means for rotating the crank disc, a crank pin carried by the crank disc, a connecting rod pivoted at one end on the crank pin to extend longitudinally of the boat and having a series of adjustment openings at its other end, a rock lever pivoted on the boat and having a series of adjustment openings, means adjustably connecting said rod and lever at the adjustment openings, and sockets carried by the connecting rod for receiving the inner ends of said oars.

6. In a rowing device, in combination with a boat,oan oar look at each side of the boat and adjustable transversely of the boat, an oar pivotally mounted in each oar lock and adjustable therewith and each oar having an extensible handle portion inwardly of the car look, an oar operating member, and tubular sockets adjustably carried by the oar operating member and slidably receiving the inner ends of said handle portions.

7. In a rowing device, in combination with a boat, an car look at each side of the boat and adjustable transversely of the boat, an oar pivotally mounted in each oar lock, each car having an extensible handle portion inwardly of the oar locks and a radially and angularly adjustable blade outwardly of the oar locks, an oar operating member, and tubular sockets carried by the oar operating member for receiving the inner ends of said handle portions.

8. An oar comprising a coupling portion having a threaded socket opening at its outer end and a. threaded shank at its inner end, a handle threaded on said shank, an adjusting stem threaded into said socket and having a connector plate at its outer end, a lock nut threaded on the stem for adjustably securing the stem against rotation in the socket, a blade having a connector plate at its inner end for engagement with the connector plate on said adjusting stem, and an adjustment bolt connecting said connector plates.

9. In a toy row boat, a pair of pivoted oars, a connecting rod for operating the oars, a rock lever pivotally connected to one end of the rod, a framing member pivoted on the lever, a framing member connected at one end to the connecting rod and having sliding connection with the first mentioned framing member, and a figure associated with the lever and framing members, said lever and framing members imparting movement to the figure with a rowing action.

HENRY s. NODDINGS. 

